6 College Scams Every Student Should Know Before Move-In Day

College means more freedom. New friends. New routines. Your own schedule. And probably more responsibility for your own money than you've ever had before.

Unfortunately, scammers know that.

College students can be targets for scams involving jobs, apartments, scholarships, tuition payments, online purchases and even messages that look like they're coming from your school or bank.

The good news? You don't have to become a fraud expert.

You just need to know when something deserves a second look.

1. The "Easy Money" Job Offer

A remote job that works around your class schedule and pays surprisingly well?

Sounds pretty great.

That's exactly why fake job offers can be convincing.

Scammers may advertise easy part-time or remote jobs, send you a fake check to purchase equipment or supplies, and then ask you to send some of the money back.

Watch for:

• Unexpected checks
• Requests to send or return money
• Upfront fees
• Conversations that happen only through text
• Pressure to move quickly

Your move: Before accepting a job or depositing a check, make sure you know who you're actually dealing with.

2. The Apartment That's Almost Too Perfect

Great location. Great price. Available immediately.

There's just one problem: it might not exist.

Rental and roommate scams can involve fake apartments, sublets or off-campus housing listings. A scammer may ask for a deposit before you're able to see the property.

Watch for:

• A price that seems too good to be true
• Pressure to send a deposit right away
• No in-person or live virtual tour
• Excuses for why the property can't be shown

Your move: Don't let fear of losing the apartment rush you into sending money before you've verified the listing.

3. The "Guaranteed" Scholarship

College is expensive, so an offer promising guaranteed scholarship money or student loan help can be hard to ignore.

That's what scammers are counting on.

Some scholarships and student loan scams promise guaranteed awards, loan forgiveness or special financial-aid assistance in exchange for money or personal information.

Watch for:

• Upfront fees
• "Guaranteed" scholarships or forgiveness
• Requests for Social Security or banking information
• Pressure to enroll or act immediately

Your move: Be skeptical of anyone who promises guaranteed money but needs you to pay first.

4. The Marketplace Deal Gone Wrong

Dorm furniture. Textbooks. Electronics. Concert tickets.

Online marketplaces can be incredibly useful during college, but scammers use them too.

You might encounter someone who disappears after receiving payment, asks you to pay outside the app or sends an overpayment and asks you to refund the difference.

Watch for:

• Payment requests outside the marketplace app
• Sellers who won't meet safely
• Overpayments followed by refund requests
• Deals priced unusually low

Your move: When the deal feels weird, complicated or unbelievably cheap, don't be afraid to walk away.

There will be another mini fridge.

5. The Text That Looks Legit

"Your account has been locked."

"Your package couldn't be delivered."

"Verify your student account immediately."

A phishing message can look like it's coming from your college, bank, delivery service or streaming app.

The goal is simple: get you to click a link and hand over passwords or personal information.

Watch for:

• Suspicious links or attachments
• Requests to "verify" your account
• Spelling or formatting mistakes
• Login pages that don't look familiar
• Messages from unfamiliar email addresses or phone numbers

Your move: Don't use the link in the message. Contact the organization another way using a phone number or website you already trust.

6. The "Pay Your Tuition Right Now" Message

This one is designed to make you panic.

A scammer may pretend to be your college and claim your classes, housing or student account are at risk unless you send payment immediately.

Watch for:

• Threats or urgent payment demands
• Requests for gift cards
• Requests for wire transfers
• Messages from unfamiliar numbers or email addresses

Your move: Stop before you pay. Contact your school directly and ask whether there's actually a problem with your account.

The Biggest Red Flag? Urgency.

A lot of scams have one thing in common:

They don't want you to have time to think.

They want the deposit now.

They need you to click the link now.

They need the gift cards now.

They need you to verify your account now.

That pressure is your cue to slow things down.

Think It Might Be a Scam? Do These 4 Things.

1. Stop communicating.

Don't keep responding just because the person keeps messaging you.

2. Don't send money.

If something feels suspicious, don't make another payment while you're trying to figure it out.

3. Save everything.

Keep screenshots, texts, emails and other messages related to what happened.

4. Contact your bank.

If money, your bank account or financial information may have been involved, contact your bank as soon as possible.

One Last Thing: It's Okay to Ask

College is supposed to teach you a lot of things.

How to spot a fake apartment listing, questionable job offer or suspicious tuition text doesn't have to be something you figure out alone.

If something involving your money doesn't seem right, ask before you act.

At Peshtigo National Bank, we'd much rather help you take a second look at something legitimate than have you find out afterward that it wasn't.

Pause. Check. Then click, pay or share.

That little habit can save you a much bigger headache later.